The antibiotic Ciprofloxacin, or Cipro, is used to treat numerous body infections. It is often prescribed for treating bone, urinary tract, skin and lungs infections.
For those taking Ciprofloxacin, there are some side effects drug you should be aware of. The most common side effects are going to be nausea, diarrhoea, insomnia, nightmares, headaches and drowsiness. For most people, these symptoms are mild and often go away after a few weeks of taking the drug. The body will start to getting accustomed to the drug, causing fewer and less severe reactions.
The most dangerous side effects of this drug are allergic ones. If you start to break out in hives, have an unexplained rash, have trouble breathing or feel itchy all over, then you may be having an allergic reaction to the drug. You need to stop taking it immediately and get to a hospital right away. If your allergic reaction is severe, you could stop breathing altogether, which is very dangerous. It is important to know the signs of an allergic reaction so you can spot it as soon as it comes on.
There are other severe but uncommon side effects to be watching out for as well. If any of the symptoms listed as common become very severe, then you need to stop taking the drug and get medical attention right away. So while diarrhoea is common and expected with Ciprofloxacin, if the diarrhoea turns bloody, then you could be suffering a severe reaction to the medication. If you experience extreme dizziness or migraines, then you also need to get medical help right away.
Some other severe side effects include bruising easily, trouble urinating, seizures, severe or sudden joint pain, numbness and yellowed skin.
Severe side effects from Ciprofloxacin are uncommon, and most people do not experience this. The mild side effects are more common and will be expected. Your doctor will most likely tell you more about these. If you are bothered by the more common side effects, it is okay to talk to your doctor about them and see if there is another medication you can take or if your dosage can be changed.
